ISLAMABAD: Climate shocks, armed conflicts, economic crises and shrinking international aid are putting global nutrition gains at risk, leaving 2.6 billion people unable to afford a healthy diet and highlighting the urgent need for countries, including Pakistan, to better integrate their food and health systems to protect vulnerable populations, the 2026 Global Nutrition Report says.
Launched at Rome Nutrition Week, the report warns that converging crises are increasing food insecurity and malnutrition worldwide, while also undermining efforts to achieve global nutrition targets. It argues that nutrition can no longer be addressed through isolated interventions and must instead be placed at the centre of food, health and climate policies.
The report notes that despite mounting challenges, investing in nutrition remains one of the most cost effective public health interventions, with every dollar invested expected to generate an estimated return of US$23 through improved health, productivity and economic outcomes.
Drawing on extensive research and analysis of more than 1,400 Nutrition for Growth commitments made by governments and organisations worldwide, the report identifies major gaps in financing, coordination and accountability that continue to hamper progress in tackling malnutrition.
One of its key findings is that countries with pre-existing integrated programmes, such as school meal initiatives, cash transfer schemes and community health services, were better able to protect nutrition during Covid-19, climate emergencies and humanitarian crises than those attempting to build new systems during emergencies.
The report also stresses that food system reforms must carefully balance health, environmental and social considerations. While shifts towards plant-based diets can improve health and reduce environmental impacts, policymakers must ensure that vulnerable populations continue to receive adequate micronutrients and nutritional support.
Another major concern highlighted in the report is the lack of attention to gender equity. An analysis of 631 commitments made during the 2025 Nutrition for Growth Summit in Paris found that 70 per cent had no connection to gender issues, while only two per cent were considered genuinely transformative in advancing women’s empowerment despite strong evidence linking women’s access to resources with improved nutrition outcomes.
The report further found that while many government commitments met high technical standards, relatively few had secured financing, and only a small proportion included mechanisms to monitor progress and strengthen accountability.
Commenting on the findings, Dr Irshad Danish, Chair of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Civil Society Network and Co-chair of the Stakeholder Group of the Global Nutrition Report, said the growing overlap of climate disasters, health emergencies and economic pressures demanded a fundamentally different approach to nutrition.
“A business as usual approach with siloed systems is costly, ineffective and risks lives, especially for the most vulnerable. Nutrition must be embedded at the centre of climate policy, health reform and food system transformation,” he said.
Dr Danish said the report provides clear evidence on the current state of global nutrition while offering practical solutions to strengthen resilience in a world facing multiple and overlapping crises.
To support policymakers and development partners, the report introduces a new Food and Health Systems for Equitable Nutrition framework, designed to help countries integrate food and health policies while responding to climate change and other shocks.
The framework identifies leadership, governance, financing, operational capacity, research and monitoring as critical elements required to deliver sustainable nutrition outcomes and build resilient systems capable of withstanding future crises.
The report’s authors argue that integration does not occur automatically and requires political commitment, long-term financing and stronger coordination between sectors traditionally operating in isolation.
For countries such as Pakistan, where climate related disasters, food insecurity, rising food prices and persistent malnutrition continue to threaten public health, the report’s recommendations carry particular significance. Experts believe stronger integration between nutrition, health, agriculture and social protection programmes will be essential to protect vulnerable populations and accelerate progress towards national and global nutrition targets.
The Global Nutrition Report is regarded as the world’s leading independent assessment of the state of global nutrition and serves as a key accountability mechanism for tracking progress towards international nutrition commitments and targets.
